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Remembering the browser wars with Netscape's ex-CEO

Barksdale: The Microsoft splitter

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Radio Reg Jim Barksdale refuses most interviews these days. He's no longer serving as, say, CIO of FedEx or CEO of Netscape and has little use for hacks. Still - via a bit of string pulling - we were able to secure the business and technology legend on Semi Coherent Computing.

Many of you will remember Barksdale as the star of the Microsoft anti-trust hearings. Redmond had upset a number of companies, but the spotlight hit Barksdale and Netscape most directly at the time. In our interview, Barksdale reflects on the early days of Netscape and the steel cage death match with Microsoft.

Does Barksdale still think Microsoft would do better if it were broken up into different pieces? You bet he does.

Episode 11 of SCC also has Barksdale walk us through his days as an IBM mainframe salesman and his work turning FedEx into a technology powerhouse. We hit on his past efforts around creating a wireless giant and current efforts via Frontline bidding on a portion of wireless spectrum as well.

As if that weren't enough, we dive into his roles as board member of Sun, FedEx and Time Warner and his thoughts on the future of server companies and service providers.

Last, and certainly not least, we learn how Barksdale is putting his millions toward improving the educations of youngsters in his home state of Mississippi. You'll find the Barksdale Reading Institute here.